Malawi: Development Aid

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What international development contributions have been made to Malawi in each of the years 1997 to 2005.

Baroness Amos: International development contributions made to Malawi are as listed below. Note that 2003 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			 Year Total net oda from all donors to Malawi £ million 
			 1997 210 
			 1998 262 
			 1999 276 
			 2000 295 
			 2001 281 
			 2002 251 
			 2003 305 
		
	
	Source: OECD-DAC database 21 June 2005.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) whether McKinsey and Company Incorporated is currently carrying out any work for the Department for International Development;
	(b) how many projects the firm has carried out for the department during each year in the past five years;
	(c) for each project, how long such work lasted and how many McKinsey and Company employees were involved;
	(d) what was the nature of the contracts with the company; and
	(e) what was the total value of payments made by the department to McKinsey and Company Incorporated in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: McKinsey and Company Incorporated currently has no work with DfID and has had no work with the department in the past five years.

China: Family Planning Policy

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will withdraw financial support for organisations which co-operate with the Chinese Government's State Family Planning Commission, in the light of the statement on 9 June by the Chinese minister for family planning that China will not relax its one-child policy.

Baroness Amos: United Kingdom assistance for reproductive health programmes is provided in support of the principles of free and informed choice set out at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994 and re-affirmed in various international forums since. These principles reject coercion in matters relating to child bearing and reproduction.
	DfID assistance, through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is helping to promote non-coercive approaches to family planning in line with the ICPD plan of action. In recent years there have been some positive changes to China's population policy in recognition and compliance with the ICPD principles on people's reproductive rights and choices. This was reflected in the new population law issued in 2002.
	The UNFPA's work in the areas of reproductive health and family planning, and gender equity and ageing has helped local governments in China to pilot non-coercive approaches to family planning. In the UNFPA programme counties, birth targets and quotas have been abolished, and abortion and sterilisation rates, along with maternal mortality, have dropped significantly.
	DfID is also supporting the State Council AIDS Working Committee Office to strengthen its strategic capacity. The State Family Planning Commission (SFPC) is a member of this committee, and this support will enable it better to play its role in raising HIV and AIDS awareness.
	The Government believe that this work is important and that the UNFPA's sustained engagement in support of reform is a positive force for change and should continue.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What account they took of genocide in Darfur when they supported the decision of the international community in April 2005, in Oslo, to pledge more than $4 billion in aid and debt relief to Sudan; and whether the meeting of the G8 Finance Ministers in London on 12 June considered the Government of Sudan's role in Darfur as a factor when including Sudan on the list of countries whose debts could be cancelled in the future.

Baroness Amos: This year started with hope of a new beginning for the people of Sudan, with the signing in Nairobi of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
	The CPA is a huge achievement and deserves international support to ensure that it is fully implemented. It is clearly the best hope for peace across the whole of Sudan, and we cannot risk this failing. Early and visible dividends are key to consolidating support behind the peace agreement. Donors at the Oslo meeting discussed how they would work together to support the priority areas contained in the Sudan Joint Assessment Mission report, to help the people of Sudan realise their own futures, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. At the same time they made clear that the situation in Darfur had to be resolved; some (including ourselves) made some or all of their support conditional upon progress there.
	The UK remains gravely concerned about the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur. We have committed £90 million to the humanitarian response in Darfur/east Chad since September 2003, and £32 million to support the African Union's monitoring operation in Darfur. We sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1593, which referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has now launched a formal investigation into these crimes. We are also playing a leading role in supporting the African Union's efforts to end the conflict in Darfur, in its mediation at the peace talks in Abuja.
	We have made clear to the government in Sudan that the full benefits of a peace dividend, including work on debt relief, will not be achieved without peace in Darfur. The UK has stated that it is willing to chair a group of donors to look at the restructuring of Sudan's external debt. This is however conditional on significant progress by the Government of Sudan in resolving the Darfur conflict.
	G8 countries have agreed to complete the process of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) by making available additional development resources for such relief. This relief will provide significant support for countries' efforts to reach the goals of the Millennium Declaration, while ensuring that the financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced. For International Development Association and African Development Fund debt, 100 per cent stock cancellation will be delivered by relieving post-completion point HIPCs that are on track with their programmes of repayment obligations. Sudan is by definition, a heavily indebted poor country, and will be eligible for some HIPC debt relief when it reaches decision point within the initiative. Only when Sudan has reached completion point, has a proven track record of sound financial management and of using funds for poverty reduction, and has received full HIPC debt relief, will it receive multilateral debt cancellation under the G8 debt agreement. The UK will not take forward work in the international arena on Sudanese debt relief until progress on Darfur is made.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the 10,000 photographs taken by Mr Brian Steidle, serving with the African Union, of violations of human rights in Darfur and of the nine boxes of statements collected by Antonio Cassese while he led the United Nations Commission to Darfur in late 2004.

Lord Triesman: As we have always made clear, serious human rights abuses have taken place in Darfur, and those responsible must be brought to justice. We therefore sponsored Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005), which referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 31 March 2005. The ICC prosecutor took possession of the documents collected by the International Commission of Inquiry which had previously recommended this referral on 5 April.
	Following preliminary examination of the commission's documents and other information available to him, the prosecutor, in accordance with his mandate, decided he has sufficient basis to initiate a formal investigation and announced that investigation on 6 June.
	The court will carry out its investigations in Darfur, as elsewhere, in an entirely independent capacity. The timing of the indictments, including the names and numbers of those to be investigated or prosecuted, is solely within the prosecutor's discretion.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have assessed the validity of work undertaken by the Coalition for International Justice, North Western University and Tufts University in the United States that 400,000 people have died in Darfur in the past two years and that 90 per cent of Darfur's villages have been destroyed.

Lord Triesman: We have not assessed the validity of mortality estimates recently presented by the Coalition for International Justice (CIJ). However, the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) questioned the legitimacy of the CIJ study because of its survey design and quantitative methodology. The estimate is based on extrapolating limited data from relatively small areas and groups over the entire population of Darfur and entire period of the crisis, despite the very variable circumstances across Darfur during this time.
	Accurate mortality figures for the Darfur crisis are not available. The World Health Organisation is currently undertaking a second crude mortality survey, which will ascertain the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions in Darfur, and where these need to focus. It will only give a snapshot of the situation. We have to accept that we are unlikely ever to get a full picture of deaths from this conflict.
	The United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur was tasked to investigate the human rights abuses in Darfur. During its work the commission conducted extensive interviews in all three Darfur states and studied numerous raids in minute detail. The commission made no attempt to come up with a Darfur-wide death toll, but reported that estimates of the number of damaged or destroyed villages in Darfur were between 700 to over 2,000.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that the "Janjaweed have operated with total impunity and in close co-ordination with the forces of the Government of Sudan"; and
	What is being done to implement the Security Council resolution of 30 July 2004 to disarm the Janjaweed militia.

Lord Triesman: On 7 May 2004 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report in which he outlined his concerns that Janjaweed militias were operating with impunity and in close co-ordination with the forces of the Government of Sudan.
	United Nations Security Council Resolution 1556, passed on 30 July 2004, demanded that the Government of Sudan disarm the Janjaweed militias and apprehend and bring to justice Janjaweed leaders responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. We have made clear to the Government that we expect them to tackle the climate of impunity and to comply with this resolution, and all other commitments they have made.
	On 31 March 2005, the Security Council also passed Resolution 1593, which we sponsored, referring the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. We are pressing the Government of Sudan to co-operate in full with the court.
	Only a political solution to this conflict will create the necessary conditions for long-term peace and a sustainable disarmament process in Darfur. We therefore welcome the resumption, on 10 June, of the Abuja peace talks for Darfur. A UK observer is attending the talks.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of evidence collated by the International Crisis Group that the Government of Sudan are incorporating members of the Janjaweed militia into formal security structures such as the Popular Defence Force, the Border Intelligence Guard, the Popular Police and the Nomadic Police; and
	Whether they have asked the Government of Sudan to clarify the assertion of Musa Hilal, leader of the Janjaweed militia, that he had been promoted to the position of Brigadier General in the General Security Service of Sudan and that the Government of Sudan direct all military operations and activities by the Janjaweed militia.

Lord Triesman: In a report of 23 August 2004, the International Crisis Group provided assessment that officials in the Government of Sudan were integrating members of Janjaweed militias into formal security structures such as the police and the popular defence forces.
	We continue to make clear to the government that they must tackle the climate of impunity and bring armed militia groups under control. We co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1556, which demanded that the Government of Sudan disarm the Janjaweed militias and apprehend and bring to justice Janjaweed leaders responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn), raised the importance of improving the confidence of residents of Darfur in the police forces there with the Sudanese First Vice-President during their meeting on 14 June.
	Only a political solution to this conflict will create the necessary conditions for long-term peace in Darfur. We therefore welcome the resumption, on 10 June, of the Abuja peace talks for Darfur. A UK observer is attending the talks.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they have done to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 29 March, to freeze the assets and restrict the travel movements of the architects of the genocide in Darfur.

Lord Triesman: The Government have fully implemented the obligations in Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) in the United Kingdom, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. They have made the necessary provisions for the assets freeze and travel ban to be applied to individuals who will be designated by the committee, including individuals who have committed violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made of when the first indictments will be handed down to the 51 names on the International Criminal Court's list of alleged perpetrators of war crimes in Darfur.

Lord Triesman: Following a preliminary examination, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced, on 6 June, his intention to open a formal investigation into the situation in Darfur.
	The court will carry out its investigations in Darfur, as elsewhere, in an entirely independent capacity. The timing of the indictments, like the names and numbers of those to be investigated or prosecuted, is solely within the prosecutor's discretion.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the Arab League about the killing of African Muslims in Darfur.

Lord Triesman: We regularly press other members of the international community, including the Arab League, to do what they can to help find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Darfur. We have encouraged them to support the African Union mediation at the Darfur peace talks in Abuja, and to use their influence with the parties to get them to engage constructively in political dialogue. To this end, we welcome the recent Heads of State Darfur summit in Tripoli, at which Egypt, Libya, Chad, Nigeria and Gabon called for the resumption of peace talks, and secured the commitment of the government of Sudan to attend and engage in good faith. We welcome the resumption, on 10 June, of peace talks in Abuja. A UK representative is present to provide support to the parties.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they are doing to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over Darfur.

Lord Triesman: The Government of Sudan (GoS) signed the Abuja Security Protocol on 9 November 2004, which commits them to refrain from all hostile military overflights over Darfur. Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591, the African Union (AU) is requested to monitor compliance by the GoS with this commitment. We continue to make clear to both the GoS and the rebels that they must abide fully by the commitments they have made, and the UN Security-Council resolution.
	In early February the GoS announced that they would remove their Antonov aircraft from Darfur and refrain from hostile use of aircraft there. The Antonovs appear to have been withdrawn. Although helicopter gunships remain in Darfur, the AU and the UN Secretary-General report that the GoS have not conducted any air attacks since January.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of African Union troops required to secure Darfur; and how many there are at present.

Lord Triesman: The African Union (AU) led an assessment mission to Darfur in March this year to look at the AU force's performance. Military experts from the EU, UN, UK, US and Canada participated in this mission. On the recommendations of the assessment team, the AU decided to expand its mission in Darfur to over 7,700 personnel in order to fulfil its current mandate and to provide a secure environment throughout the region. The UK welcomed this decision, and has allocated £19 million to support the expansion. This brings our total support to the AU mission to almost £32 million.
	At present, the AU has deployed almost 2,700 of the planned 3,320 staff for its mission. The shortfall is mainly due to delays in identifying and deploying suitable police officers. Our understanding is that approximately 460 police are deployed, out of a mandated 815. Efforts to close the gap continue.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the statement by Jan Egeland, the United Nations Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, that 10,000 people will die every month in Darfur if the security situation leads to humanitarian organisations suspending their operations.

Lord Triesman: Jan Egeland estimated in March that 10,000 Sudanese civilians were dying each month in Darfur. Estimates of deaths in Darfur vary from 70,000 to 300,000 and above. Accurate figures are not available and even though the World Health Organisation is undertaking a second crude mortality survey, it will give only a snapshot of the situation. We are unlikely ever to get a full and wholly accurate picture of deaths from this conflict.
	There are 2.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Darfur and many of these would be put at great risk if humanitarian operations were suspended by any organisation for reasons of insecurity. This is why the Government fully supported the African Union's (AU) decision to increase its troop numbers from 3,000 to 7,700 and why the Government recently announced a further £19 million in funding to the AU mission in Darfur. This brings the UK's total funding to the AU to almost £32 million.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn), reaffirmed to the Government of Sudan during his recent visit on 12 to 14 June that NGOs must be allowed to operate freely and without harassment.

Sudan: UN Arms Embargo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What their view is in relation to the application made by Belarus to the United Nations Sanctions Committee seeking permission to sell arms to Sudan.

Lord Triesman: There have been no applications to the relevant UN sanctions committee seeking permission to sell arms to Sudan. The government of Belarus has sought clarification on the scope of the UN arms embargo against Sudan. This clarification has been provided by the chairman of the UN Sudan Sanctions Committee.

Military Goods: Export Licence Criteria

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether established non-governmental organisations are consulted before export permits are given for military goods to go to developing countries.

Lord Triesman: The Government do not give prior scrutiny of export licence applications to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). All applications for the export of military-listed goods from the UK are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national export licensing criteria, taking full account of the prevailing circumstances at the time of application. These criteria include assessment of the risk that a proposed export would seriously undermine the economy or seriously hamper the sustainable development of the recipient country. All relevant government departments are involved in this assessment and NGO reporting on particular destinations is taken into account. The Government take very seriously the need for transparency in export licensing decisions, and we now produce quarterly reports in addition to our annual report presented to Parliament.

United Nations: Human Rights

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made in promoting the reform and strengthening the role of the United Nations human rights machinery.

Lord Triesman: The UK is playing an active role in the negotiations on the UN Secretary-General's proposals for reforming and strengthening the UN Human Rights machinery. These are currently ongoing in New York and will culminate with the Millennium Review Summit in September. It is not possible at this stage to guarantee the outcome of the negotiation, given the wide variety of views amongst UN partners. But the UK, along with our EU partners, is working towards an outcome which will both enhance the UN bodies which deal with human rights, and strengthen the relationship between the human rights structures and the rest of the UN system. In particular, we support the Secretary-General's proposal for a new permanent Human Rights Council on the same footing as the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, with a clear mandate to address urgent human rights situations as and when they arise. We are also urging stronger links between the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Security Council and proposed Peacebuilding Commission, such that the High Commissioner can bring urgent and grave situations to their attention whenever appropriate.

G8 Water Action Plan

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they will make regarding the provision of clean water and sanitation to third world countries at the forthcoming G8 and European Union meetings.

Lord Triesman: The Evian G8 Water Action Plan commits G8 member countries to playing a more active role in the international efforts towards achieving the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets. Through the G8, we are seeking support to increase aid to implement the G8 water action plan. The UK has proposed the establishment of an infrastructure consortium that will, among other things, advocate for increased investment in infrastructure, including for water and sanitation.
	The EU Water Initiative remains a key focus of effort for the UK with respect to donor harmonisation and improving aid effectiveness in the sector. It also provides a regionally based focus for implementing the MDG targets for water and sanitation. Through the EU Water Initiative, the European Commission, member states and other stakeholders are working with African countries to strengthen regional policies and strategies as well as to co-ordinate donor activities aligned behind nationally-owned development plans. The EC has provided €250 million from the European Development Fund (EDF) to support the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU Water Facility that will build research and management capacity and provide finance to catalyse sustainable projects in ACP countries. A further €250 million will be released for the ACP-EU Water Facility depending on the review of the performance of the EDF.

Supreme Court: Staffing Structure

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom will be provided with assistance from permanent qualified legal advisers in the court's registry.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Law Lords are currently considering the staffing structure for the Supreme Court, including the need for a permanent qualified legal adviser.

Supreme Court: Staffing Structure

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether each justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom will be assisted by his or her own judicial assistant, as in other common law jurisdictions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Under Section 49 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 the president may appoint officers and staff of the Supreme Court. The Government's view is that justices should have the option to be assisted by their own judicial assistant. However, it will be for individual justices to decide whether they wish to have a judicial assistant.

Armed Forces: Readiness

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have brought to the attention of NATO the recommendations of the National Audit Office report, Assessing and Reporting Military Readiness, on the "gold standard" for reporting the readiness of Armed Forces; and whether they are encouraging NATO to apply such a standard to their reporting system.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence's system for reporting the readiness of UK forces uses NATO readiness categories and has already been widely shared with allies. The recommendations made by the NAO cover further technical developments in the MoD's internal risk management arrangements and in the public reporting of military readiness under our public service agreement and are specific to the UK. The MoD's latest public service agreement report to the end of March, available at www.mod.uk, shows that no UK forces were reporting critical weakness that would make it impossible for them to deploy on new operations if they were required to do so.

Specialist School Status

Lord Skidelsky: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether (a) applications for specialist school status, and (b) documents relating to the assessment of specialist school status applications can, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, be made public on request.

Lord Adonis: All information held by public authorities must be made available upon request unless an exemption properly applies, and in the case of qualified exemptions the public interest determines that it must be released. The department has advised schools that information relating to the formal application process for specialist schools status must be assessed on a case by case basis. The presumption under the Act is that this information must be made available unless an exemption properly applies.

United Kingdom Trade and Investment

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When details of the latest restructuring of United Kingdom Trade and Investment will be announced; and what the timescale for implementing any changes will be.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The structure and staffing of the organisation has to be determined in the light of UKTI's future strategy and its focus, as set out in UKTI's corporate plan 2004–07, and the financial and manpower resources available following the SR2004 settlement. Details of both are available at www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.

United Kingdom Trade and Investment

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What criteria have been employed by United Kingdom Trade and Investment in order to decide which industry sector panels to retain.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: UKTI employed consultants to advise on its sector prioritisation exercise in 2004. The consultants looked at sectors both (a) in terms of their contribution to the UK economy and their potential for international growth and (b) the extent to which sector teams in UKTI (and their private sector advisory groups) could add value nationally. The result, which was validated by a private sector-led panel, was a reduction in the number of national sector teams responsible for taking forward national strategies. These teams have retained their industry advisory groups. Some sectors have been absorbed into wider sector teams, and others will be co-ordinated on a national basis by an international trade team in one of the English regions. UKTI has used separate advisory panels to make recommendations, on a sector-by-sector basis, for the distribution of funds under the support for exhibitions and seminars abroad (SESA) scheme. The future of these panels will depend on the arrangements UKTI will make for a revised SESA scheme, and on which it is currently conducting consultations.

United Kingdom Trade and Investment

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether tourism and leisure will be retained as a proactive sector panel within United Kingdom Trade and Investment.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The tourism and leisure sector team has been merged with the education and training team to form an education, skills and leisure team. The former tourism and heritage advisory group has been disbanded in the light of the sector prioritisation exercise. The future of the panels that advised on the support for exhibitions and seminars abroad scheme will depend on the new arrangements for that scheme on which UKTI is currently still consulting.

United Kingdom Trade and Investment

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the sport and play industries will continue to be eligible for financial support from United Kingdom Trade and Investment.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Yes. The companies in the sports and play industries will still be eligible for financial support from UKTI, although the focus will be on new to export companies.